“Whoever he is, he’s an expert with the bow,” Mr. Holloway declared. “I wish we could catch him though. Accurate as he is, he shouldn’t be shooting whenever the urge strikes him. He might hit someone.”
Presently the Cubs brought their day’s rehearsal to a close. Mr. Holloway told the boys he would develop the films and have them ready for a showing by the following night.
“We’re getting along well,” he praised the Cubs. “I hear though, that some of the organizations competing for the prize are spending considerable on scenery and costumes. So we’ll have to work hard if we hope to win.”
The next morning Dan and Brad spent several hours working with Mr. Hatfield to improve the script for their play. That job completed, they went to their separate homes for lunch and then met again at Brad’s home.
By this hour the weather had turned very sultry, but with no indication of rain.
“It’s going to be a hot, dusty walk out to the Castle,” Brad remarked as he and Dan set off down the highway. “I thought maybe Dad would drive us out, but he had some other work to do.”
“The worst will be if we get out there and discover Ross hasn’t cleaned up the brush,” Dan added.
Fearing the worst, both boys had equipped themselves with large rakes and cutting tools. The articles were cumbersome to carry. Before they had covered three-quarters of the distance, both Brad and Dan were covered with perspiration.
“This day is a scorcher,” Dan declared, mopping his forehead. “The paper this morning warned householders to go easy on using water. The shortage is acute.”
Brad had spied a roadside stand a short distance ahead.